Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, a privately owned hotel chain based in Mumbai, is looking to expand its presence in Africa. The company already operates over 75 hotels across Africa and India, and is focusing on growing its three- and four star Portico brand.
Of the upcoming 15 properties slated to open by 2018, 11 will be under the Portico brand. The company also operates the economy brand Hometel, four- and five-star brand Sarovar Premiere and manages hotels under the Radisson, Park Plaza and Park Inn brands under a franchise agreement with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
Earlier this year, Sarovar announced plans to operate 10 hotels in Africa in the next five years. To that end, the company took over management of the Panorama Hotel in Juba, Republic of South Sudan. The property was rebranded as The Panorama Sarovar Portico, Juba.
Looking ahead, Samovar will open its fifth hotel in Africa—Nairobi’s Lazizi Premiere by November.
Sarovar Hotels executive director Ajay Bakaya said in May that the company predicts "immense growth potential" in the African market, with high demand and good occupancies in most hotels.
India
Beyond Africa, Sarovar also wants to grow in second- and third-tier destinations in India. Recently, the company opened a hotel in Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, and is looking at cities like Jaisalmer, Amritsar, and Bhavnagar in the coming months.
Sarovar will also take over new properties in New Delhi and Bengaluru this year under its Sarovar Portico brand. The company said it expects to take over new properties in Raipur, Gorakhpur, Junagarh and Jalandhar next year.